The Wall of Gloves, signed by immortals from A to Z, still was in place, a couple of bottles of Laphroaig single malt sat on the storeroom shelf, and a few stacks of T-shirts remained Wednesday afternoon just a few hours before another Boston institution closed its doors, this one in Faneuil Hall’s North Market. After 35 years, the Bill Rodgers Running Center gave up the ghost on All Hallow’s Eve.
“This is the right time to stop,” concluded Rodgers, who with brother Charlie and childhood friend Jason Kehoe created a gathering place that was to road racers what the Paris bookstore Shakespeare and Company was to Ernest Hemingway and his fellow expatriates in the 1920s. “It’s like being a marathoner.”
Comments
I remember "running" Falmouth years ago. I was, at that time, in the "fat guys" division. I was starting up the last hill when suddenly there was the winner of the race, "Boston Billy" cheering us on. "You can make it", "Almost home", "dig, dig" etc. I think he was looking for someone still running, but this icon took the time to cheer on the plodders.
I'll never forget!
Bless you Bill and Charlie!!